On Gatsby, Tweets, and Hammocks, Etc.

I've been quiet on the blog lately, just catching up with life and books after the play, dealing with some real life situations with my friends, not feeling real chatty.

One book that I just re-enjoyed was the new audio version of "The Great Gatsby," in prep for the movie, of course. According to the book blurb on Goodreads, this new audio edition was
authorized by the Fitzgerald estate. It is narrated by Oscar-nominated
actor Jake Gyllenhaal (Brokeback Mountain). It's incredible. If you have a desire to go see the movie, consider listening to this first so you get it all. It is just a 4 hour investment, well worth your time. And you might just get to have a conversation with your teen that goes something like this:

My teen recently tweeted:

THE GREAT GATSBY IS LITERALLY A BOOK ABOUT NOTHING AND IT SUCKS.

Me: Perhaps that is the point.

(Note that I usually stay far away from engaging my teen through a tweet. Far, far away. But I couldn't resist).

My teen:

no...there is no point in it having no point.

(Wow. He actually responded. Shocked into stupor. Note that I honestly felt just like him as a teen when I encountered it in high school, but no need to tell him that).

Me: Bingo. Isn't that a life statement of those times? What the author was saying? Why it ends the way it does?

My Teen:

mom I don't need an English lesson right now..

(Yeah, I freely admit, I got carried away).

Me: Sorry dear! Enjoy your day . . .

“Reserving judgements is a matter of infinite hope.”

I have to confess that Gatsby rather reminds me of Hammocks, Etc. -- pictures friends have posted on my Timeline. Because ever since I wrote about finding time to read, in my blog post On Reading and Hammocks my friends like to post Hammock and other pics on my Timeline. This one reminds me of the way Gatsby went ALL OUT for Daisy. I mean, if the Gatsby Estate was a hammock, with all its lights and pleasing setting, this would be THE HAMMOCK that Gatsby chose.

“In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.”

And this totally fits with that whole Gatsby mentality:

"They were careless people, Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things and
creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast
carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other
people clean up the mess they had made.”

Which I completely agree with (buy the shoes!), being a child of the '80s and all.

Somehow, this pic found its way on my timeline, not a hammock but close, and it TOTALLY represents how Gatsby sat in his little boat and pined away for that one special girl. It sums up Daisy, with her rich voice. It sums up the dream of Daisy, which can't possibly live up to the reality.

“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

Sometimes the jury is out on Daisy.

“She’s got an indiscreet voice,” I remarked. “It’s full of-“
I hesitated.
“Her voice is full of money,” he said suddenly.

Is she really as shallow as she ends? Or is she just stuck -- like this picture of a hammock posted by a friend on my page. Up a tree, stuck in a beautiful cage.

“I felt a haunting loneliness sometimes, and felt it in others--young
clerks in the dusk, wasting the most poignant moments of night and life."

This hammock reminds one of the nice neat little house of narrator Nick Carraway, just all simple but substantive, like Nick himself:

“Every one suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and
this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever
known.”

I mean, it is definitely the "there when you need" it kind of hammock.

I'm afraid that this picture does not express the American attitude of the time.

“There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy and the tired.”

(And that is why they got in trouble, right!) This picture sums it up much better.

“And I like large parties. They’re so intimate. At small parties there isn’t any privacy.”

Or maybe it is because, unlike my husband, Tom didn't post this on Daisy's Facebook page and pretend like she posted it (or Tom wouldn't have, given the chance):

Comments

Like you, I re-read the book in prep for the movie, which has been a long time coming, btw. I must admit when I was a teen, I didn't get it. Perhaps instead of a book club discussion we could have a movie club discussion?

2017 Favorites!

Perhaps a little heavy for a blissful holiday weekend, but here in America don't we owe our memories to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for us? And how best to revere them than by sitting down with a little book that packs a punch ...

I completely support and respect this. Whether you love Bush or weren't a fan, as an American you owe it to these wounded warriors to hear their stories that he is telling. Bravo all of you, and Thank You for everything you've done for m...

So wonderful. I love you even more now, Trevor Noah, especially because you made your mom the star. A must read. And I picked up an excellent parenting tip that totally works. (No spoiler here-it's the Write me a letter argument, love it...

Very interesting. Not explainable. Not for the faint of heart.
***I think I finally have just a few words for this book. It is to be visited and revisited. I'm a huge fan of audio and much of the time will both listen and read a book. W...

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A Note on Ratings

You will notice that I have a number of high ratings for my 20-- Favorites list. I do really enjoy books. I also believe we are all a little stingy with our ratings. It is very hard to write a good book! So if a book is well written, resonates with me, and has a satisfying ending (not meaning happy but right), then I rate the book a 5 star rating. If I loved the book, but it was missing one of these, then I rate it a 4. Enjoyed the book but found some real literary flaws, a 3, OR just found the book ok, even if well written, also a 3. In other words, if I only come across one 5 star a year, heavens I'll just have to find another hobby. Take care with your ratings, and, PLEASE, go ahead and give a 5 if it meets all your standards. It's ok to love that book, even if it is not the very very very best book ever! Then again, if you have a negative reaction to it, share your opinion, you are entitled. And that's all I have to say about that.